Powering People and Planet: Impact Report 2025 • Chapter 2
50
Latin America and the Caribbean Which constraints limit energy systems to deliver development impact?
Exhibit 9: Energy systems profile for Latin America and the Caribbean Governance Policy Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy overall score 57
While LAC has achieved high electricity access rates (98 percent) and a relatively strong renewable electricity share (55 percent) approximately 17 million people still lack access, and an additional 60 million experience unreliable supply (see Exhibit 9).
Policy RISE Renewable Energy Pillar
Improved reliability, affordability and quality of supply holds potential to improve outcomes for those that have access. Structural barriers — such as small, isolated communities, vulnerability to climate events like hurricanes, limited land for building utility-scale renewables and stressed utilities — make diesel replacement difficult, especially in island nations and remote areas. Overreliance on hydropower exposes the region to climate risks like droughts and aging infrastructure risks backsliding into fossil fuels. Financing challenges persist due to high upfront costs, low tariffs and fragmented funding, while policy and regulatory gaps, institutional weaknesses and poor coordination hinder large-scale electrification and renewable energy integration.
Access
37
100
100
Utilization Electricity power consumption (kilowatt-hour/person/year) 2,256
4,000
Access to electricity (% of population) 98%
100%
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking (% of population) 89%
100%
System performance Total energy supply (GJ/person/year) 69
150
System Average Interruption Duration Index (hours/year) 15
0
Energy Transition Index score 54
100
Renewable electricity output (% of total electricity output) 55%
88